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If you’ve lost those old Petra albums, tapes or CD’s, here’s a chance to restock your collection. To celebrate their illustrious 40-year career, Christian rock band, Petra, has released an exclusive CD project featuring the band’s biggest and most-loved songs. The standard edition of 40th Anniversary will include 27 of Petra’s hits, while the deluxe edition (digital copy only) will include 37 songs. Both versions include a new recording titled “Holy Is Your Name.”

“’Holy Is Your Name’ is a thank you to all our fans, but mostly a thanks to God for all the wonderful years!” says Bob Hartman, founding member of Petra. “We are happy to include it on the 40th Anniversary compilation.”

Compiled by Hartman, 40th Anniversary displays Petra’s four-decade career of music and ministry featuring hits like “This Means War,” “Beyond Belief,” and “Creed.” Long-time vocalist John Schlitt joined Hartman on a seven-city reunion tour this summer to share Petra’s anniversary celebration with fans.

Over the course of their 40 years, Petra has released 24 projects, sold over 7 million albums, garnered four GRAMMY® Awards, 10 Dove Awards and several #1 radio hits. Considered the “pioneer” of Christian rock, the band has successfully paved the way for numerous artists and has helped create a new genre of rock music.

There are many aspects of the life of Rich Mullins that even his closest friends didn’t know about, let alone the average Christian music listener. Many of those aspects are about to be revealed on the big screen in the new movie “Ragamuffin”. The film is directed by David Leo Schultz who became a fan of Rich Mullins in high school when his cousin popped a Rich Mullins tape into the car. Rich’s ministry had a profound effect on David especially while “living the struggling actors life with intention of being a Missionary in Hollywood.”

David spent several years seeking approval from the Mullins family, hashing out details for the screenplay and raising money for the film. Principle photography was finished last August and the film will make its World Premier in Rich’s adopted home town, Wichita, Kansas on January 9th, 2014. Tickets are available through itickets.com.

We are pleased to announce a new radio station to the Christian Music Rewind family. Starting September 8th you can hear CMR on KXOJ in the Tulsa area every Sunday night from 10pm to Midnight. Christian Music Rewind will be an extension to KXOJ’s already popular “Family Reunion” classic music show from 7-10pm. To hear CMR on KXOJ tune in to 100.9 in Tulsa or log on to www.kxoj.com

Several members in the classic lineup of White Heart are reuniting for a brand new tour and EP recording. In a Facebook post from June 5th, the band writes, “Coming this October…Rick Florian, Gordon Kennedy, Mark Gersmehl, Billy Smiley, Jon Knox & Anthony Sallee in a special limited night WHITE HEART Reunion Tour.” However, more recently plans were changed. On July 16th their Facebook page was updated with the following. “Due to a large number of requests for “NEW” music the band decided that they will be going back into the studio to produce a new EP that will be part of the new tour along with all your favorite songs from the past. In order to have the time to finish this new project, the White Heart Reunion Tour will be move to the Spring of 2014. And another piece of great news is that the guys have decided to double the number of dates.” You can keep up to date with this exciting news from White Heart on their very active “official” Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/TheWhiteHeartBand

Legendary Christian recording artist Carman recently shocked his audience with a Facebook announcement that he was suffering from multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood that affects the bone marrow, and had only 3 to 5 years to live. On June 3rd he appeared on the 700 club to discuss his journey with cancer, as well as the Kickstarter program that ultimately came out of his tragic diagnosis.

After 30 years with Word Records, Christian music pioneer Amy Grant has left the roster, signing a deal with EMI Christian Music Group’s Sparrow label that will include her catalog as well as new music.”We are certainly honored by Amy’s confidence in us to carry on her musical legacy,” says Bill Hearn, president/CEO EMI Christian Music Group. “It certainly is a historical moment for EMI.”

Grant signed with Word in October 1976, one month shy of her 16th birthday. “I had a great run with Word and still love the people there,” Grant tells Billboard, “but I feel like EMI is uniquely outfitted to do great things for the catalog. And I’ve known Bill Hearn and his father for over 25 years. There’s a comfort level there.”

EMI has the Beach Boys, the Beatles, Bob Seger, Frank Sinatra and other major catalogs and EMI executives look forward to working Grant’s music. “We really have a passion and mission for Amy’s catalog,” says Hearn. “We’re going to repackage and re-master all 16 of her catalog titles and release them all together on August 14th both physically and digitally as well as a suite of mobile products for the cell phone. There’s never been a ‘Baby, Baby’ ring tone. Imagine how popular that could be.”

In addition to the August releases, EMI will release a new greatest hits package in October that will include at least one song from each of Grant’s previous studio albums. There will also be a special edition issued that will include a bonus DVD of Grant’s music videos and other content.

When news surfaced that Grant’s contract with Word was ending, there was much speculation as to whether she’d stay with Word or sign with one of the other three major Christian music companies. At one point, there were rumors she might sign with Sony/BMG’s Provident Music Group because Grant is managed by Blanton, Harrell, Cooke and Corzine, and the firm’s other major client, Michael W. Smith, is on Provident’s Reunion label.

In the end, EMI won out. “I just think we presented a marketing plan that really resonated with Amy’s team,” says Hearn. “That’s why we got the deal. We have a unique situation here at EMI CMG in that we have a strong partnership with EMI Music’s catalog marketing division.”

Grant is able to take her catalog with her to EMI because, in an unusual feat for an artist, she has always owned her master recordings.

Grant’s departure from Word is the end of an era for the 56-year-old company. “Word is honored to have been part of Amy’s career for the past 30 years,” says Word senior VP of marketing Rod Riley. “She is a pioneer that paved the way for so many other Christian artists and we wish her the best on all her endeavors.”

Grant will be on tour this summer with her husband Vince Gill and the Del McCoury Band. She’s working on a book for Waterbrook Press due out this fall titled “Mosaic,” a collection of poems, stories, and other writings.

As for the direction of her next album, “It’s probably too early to say,” Grant muses. “I’ve been working really hard to do this [book] project and that’s all I have thought about.”